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follow it。〃
〃Yes；〃 said she； looking at me half in doubt； 〃I think I
understand。 But wherever you go I hope you will find the
flower at last。〃
In truth there were many things in the city that troubled
me and made me restless； in spite of the sweet comfort of
Ruamie's friendship and the tranquillity of the life in
Saloma。 I came to see the meaning of what the old man had
said about the shadow that rested upon his thoughts。 For
there were some in the city who said that the hours of
visitation were wasted； and that it would be better to employ
the time in gathering water from the pools that formed among
the mountains in the rainy season； or in sinking wells along
the edge of the desert。 Others had newly come to the city and
were teaching that there was no Source； and that the story of
the poor man who reopened it was a fable； and that the hours of
visitation were only hours of dreaming。 There were many who
believed them； and many more who said that it did not matter
whether their words were true or false； and that it was of small
moment whether men went to visit the fountain or not； provided
only that they worked in the gardens and kept the marble pools
and basins in repair and opened new canals through the fields；
since there always had been and always would be plenty of water。
As I listened to these sayings it seemed to me doubtful
what the end of the city would be。 And while this doubt was
yet heavy upon me； I heard at midnight the faint calling of
the trumpet； sounding along the crest of the mountains： and as
I went out to look where it came from； I saw； through the
glimmering veil of the milky way； the shape of a blossom of
celestial blue； whose petals seemed to fall and fade as I
looked。 So I bade farewell to the old man in whose house I
had learned to love the hour of visitation and the Source and
the name of him who opened it； and I kissed the hands and the
brow of the little Ruamie who had entered my heart； and went
forth sadly from the land of Koorma into other lands； to look for
the Blue Flower。
II
In the Book of the Voyage without a Harbour is written the
record of the ten years which passed before I came back again
to the city of Saloma。
It was not easy to find； for I came down through the
mountains； and as I looked from a distant shoulder of the
hills for the little bay full of greenery； it was not to be
seen。 There was only a white town shining far off against the
brown cliffs； like a flake of mica in a cleft of the rocks。
Then I slept that night； full of care； on the hillside； and
rising before dawn； came down in the early morning toward the
city。
The fields were lying parched and yellow under the
sunrise； and great cracks gaped in the earth as if it were
thirsty。 The trenches and channels were still there； but
there was little water in them； and through the ragged fringes of
the rusty vineyards I heard； instead of the cheerful songs of the
vintagers； the creaking of dry windlasses and the hoarse throb of
the pumps in sunken wells。 The girdle of gardens had shrunk like
a wreath of withered flowers； and all the bright embroidery； of
earth was faded to a sullen gray。
At the foot of an ancient； leafless olive…tree I saw a
group of people kneeling around a newly opened well。 I asked
a man who was digging beside the dusty path what this might
mean。 He straightened himself for a moment； wiping the sweat
from his brow； and answered； sullenly； 〃They are worshipping
the windlass： how else should they bring water into their
fields？〃 Then he fell furiously to digging again； and I
passed on into the city。
There was no sound of murmuring streams in the streets；
and down the main bed of the river I saw only a few shallow
puddles； joined together by a slowly trickling thread。 Even
these were fenced and guarded so that no one might come near
to them； and there were men going among to the houses with
water…skins on their shoulders； crying 〃Water！ Water to sell！〃
The marble pools in the open square were empty； and at one
of them there was a crowd looking at a man who was being
beaten with rods。 A bystander told me that the officers of
the city had ordered him to be punished because he had said
that the pools and the basins and the channels were not all of
pure marble； without a flaw。 〃For this；〃 said he； 〃is the
evil doctrine that has come in to take away the glory of our
city； and because of this the water has failed。〃
〃It is a sad change；〃 I answered； 〃and doubtless they who
have caused it should suffer more than others。 But can you
tell me at what hour and in what manner the people now observe
the visitation of the Source？〃
He looked curiously at me and replied： 〃I do not
understand you。 There is no visitation save the inspection of
the cisterns and the wells which the syndics of the city ；
whom we call the Princes of Water； carry on daily at every
hour。 What source is this of which you speak？〃
So I went on through the street； where all the passers…by
seemed in haste and wore weary countenances； until I came to
the house where I had lodged。 There was a little basin here
against the wall； with a slender stream of water still flowing
into it； and a group of children standing near with their
pitchers； waiting to fill them。
The door of the house was closed； but when I knocked； it
opened and a maiden came forth。 She was pale and sad in
aspect； but a light of joy dawned over the snow of her face；
and I knew by the youth in her eyes that it was Ruamie； who
had walked with me through the vineyards long ago。
With both hands she welcomed me； saying： 〃You are
expected。 Have you found the Blue Flower？〃
〃Not yet；〃 I answered； 〃but something drew me back to you。
I would know how it fares with you； and I would go again with
you to visit the Source。〃
At this her face grew bright； but with a tender； half…sad
brightness。
〃The Source！〃 she said。 〃Ah； yes； I was sure that you would
remember it。 And this is the hour of the visitation。 Come； let
us go up together。〃
Then we went alone through the busy and weary multitudes
of the city toward the mountain…path。 So forsaken was it and
so covered with stones and overgrown with wire…grass that I
could not have found it but for her guidance。 But as we
climbed upward the air grew clearer； and more sweet； and I
questioned her of the things that had come to pass in my
absence。 I asked her of the kind old man who had taken me
into his house when I came as a stranger。 She said； softly；
〃He is dead。〃
〃And where are the men and women； his friends； who once
thronged this pathway？ Are they also dead？〃
〃They also are dead。〃
〃But where are the younger ones who sang here so gladly as
they marched upward？ Surely they； are living？〃
〃They have forgotten。〃
〃Where then are the young children whose fathers taught
them this way and bade them remember it。 Have they forgotten？〃
〃They have forgotten。〃
〃But why have you alone kept the hour of visitation？ Why
have you not turned back with your companions？ How have you
walked here solitary day after day？〃
She turned to me with a divine regard； and laying her hand
gently over mine； she said； 〃I remember always。〃
Then I saw a few wild…flowers blossoming beside the path。
We drew near to the Source； and entered into the chamber
hewn in the rock。 She kneeled and bent over the sleeping
spring。 She murmured again and again the beautiful name of
him who had died to find it。 Her voice repeated the song that
had once been sung by many voices。 Her tears fell softly on
the spring； and as they fell it seemed as if the water stirred
and rose to meet her bending face； and when she looked up it
was as if the dew had fallen on a flower。
We came very slowly down the path along the river Carita；
and rested often beside it； for surely； I thought； the rising
of the spring had sent a‘little more water down its dry bed； and
some of it must flow on to the city。 So it was almost evening
when we came back to the streets。 The people were hurrying to
and fro； for it was the day before the choosing of new Princes of
Water； and there was much dispute about them； and strife over the
building of new cisterns to hold the stores of rain which might
fall in the next year。 But none cared for us； as we passed by
like strangers； and we came unnoticed to the door of the house。
Then a great desire of love and sorrow moved within my
breast； and I said to Ruamie； 〃You are the life of the city；
for you alone remember。 Its secret is in your heart； and your
faithful keeping of the hours of visitation is the only cause
why the river has not failed altogether and the curse of
desolation returned。 Let me stay with you； sweet soul of all
the flowers that are dead； and I will cherish you forever。
Together we will visit the Source every day； and we shall turn
the people； by our lives and by our words； back to that which
they have forgotten。〃
There was a smile in her eyes so deep that its meaning cannot
be spoken； as she lifted my hand to her lips； and answered；
〃Not so； dear friend； for who can tell whether life or
death will come to the city； whether its people will re